Chapter 17

Robin and her family had already left, they were dropping Noah off at Maxie's the boys were going to spend the night together with a babysitter while everyone else was at the Nurse's Ball. Anna turned to Finn, a year ago they had finally admitted that they wanted to try having a relationship, now here they are she thought with a smile.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"I am. Let's go," she took his arm then they left the house together.

When they arrived Anna was hoping to avoid doing the red carpet this year but they had arrived just after Robin and Maxie did so they were all dragged up for pictures. Once they made their way inside Anna noticed Robert and Alexis were already inside talking to Felicia and Mac. They seemed to be talking happily.

"Alexis actually looks happy, that good," Finn said. Anna wondered what he meant by that. Was he worried that Robert would somehow ruin this evening for her?

"Everyone should have a good time this evening."

"Yes, of course, they will," Finn said still watching Alexis. What was she doing here with him?

Anna excused herself and made her way over to talk to Maxie. She wanted a chance to talk to her before Peter came back from getting them drinks. "Maxie, I am so sorry about the other night. I should have found a different way to bring that up."

"I know you didn't mean to cause that kind of scene. Peter may have overreacted as well, he hasn't really talked about that since we were at the hospital the other day."

"I just need some answers."

"I know you do," Maxie said and gave her a hug. "Let's not talk about it tonight, we should all just enjoy ourselves this evening."

Anna smiled, "I'd like that." When she turned she saw Finn was talking to Alexis while Robert and Mac had gone to get drinks. She knows he is helping her, that they support each other with their struggles with addiction but she had to wonder what he had meant earlier with that comment about her actually looking happy.

"Finn, I can't really tell you what happened but I will tell you that I get to enjoy my evening because I know Kristina isn't in danger at the moment."

"Well, that's good. Is this all part of what you're therapist has been telling you?"

Alexis gave him a little grin. "No, apparently he is involved but Sonny did something to ensure Kristina safety so that means I can enjoy myself tonight even if she's going to be mad at her father and I for a while."

"Yeah if Sonny's involved I don't think I want to know what's going on," he said with a grin of his own making Alexis laugh.

Robert and Mac came over, "Is it time to find our tables?" Robert asked.

"I think it is," Finn said, he and Mac turned toward their table while Alexis leads Robert to theirs. Their tables turned out to be rather close to each other anyway.

Anna was already sitting with Felicia Robin and Patrick. Emma was backstage helping or getting ready, she and Spence had gone back there shortly after they had arrived. Anna looked over to see Robert and Alexis talking, he was making her laugh but Anna was glad to see it didn't seem like he was trying to charm her. Why on earth would Finn think Alexis would have a bad time with Robert? Felicia leaned close and whispered, "You might want to stop staring at Robert, Finn is right beside you."

"I'm not staring," she said quietly.

"Oh, alright," Felicia said with a little grin. "He does seem to have your attention though."

Anna looked over at Finn and Patrick who were talking to each other, then turned back to Felicia, "I know I shouldn't care but I'm trying to figure out if that might turn into a thing."

"A thing, you want to know if they're dating. Are you jealous?"

"Shhh," Anna glanced around a little. "Maybe a little. I don't know, alright."

Felicia put her arm around Anna, "This is the first time you've had to think about the fact Robert might be involved with someone since," Felicia trailed off, she didn't have to say since they were married.

"I'm sure he has been but not here, not where I'd see it. He doesn't talk about anyone not even to Robin so I don't know." Felicia tried not to giggle. Then they turned their attention back to the other people at the table.

They were all talking happily about what type of performances they would be treated with tonight. Emma and Spencer apparently had something special planned. Most people were starting to talk their seats when Robin and Felicia both looked up in surprise at the people standing by their table. "Hello, Princess."

Tears came to Felicia's eyes instantly as she stood up and hugged him. "What you guys doing here? It is so great to see you."

Tiffany was smiling beside them, "I decided we wanted to come this year," she looked at Sean, "So we can all enjoy it."

Robin was already standing up, there were tears in her eyes. She hadn't thought she'd be seeing them tonight. "Robin, look at you," Sean hugged her next.

Anna had leaned away from Finn as soon as she saw Sean and Tiffany. Ann was standing with her parents as well. Anna looked over and noticed that Robert had noticed who had just arrived. So far their attention was on Robin and Felicia. She looked at Finn, "Will you come with me, please?"

Finn thought she sounded a little funny but followed her anyway. They walked over to Robert and Alexis. "You noticed them right?"

"I did," he answered.

"I'm not sure who he knows right now, Felicia and Robin for sure. There are sure to be other old friends he'll know and that will want to talk to him."

Finn looked back at their table and the three new arrivals, "Is that's Sean?" he asked finally realizing what was going on.

Anna turned to him, "Yeah, I had no idea they were coming. I'm going to ask you and Alexis for a really big favour. Robert and I need to be a couple for the evening. It's just easier for Sean to think we're together or at least not with other people." Finn looked at Anna wondering if she was serious. While they had been in Ireland was that what they had been doing? He looked at her and realized she was serious.

"Are you pawning off your boyfriends on me?" Alexis asked with a little grin knowing Finn doesn't like that term.

"Yeah, I am also asking to steal your date."

"If it will help your friend it will be my pleasure to spend the evening with Finn," Alexis said with a smile.

"Thank you. Robert let's go say hi." He stood up and offered Anna his arms then they walked away from the table. Finn sat down then he and Alexis watched as the old friends all hugged then sat down and started talking happily. After a few minutes, Mac Patrick and Ann came over to join them at their table. They introduced Ann to Alexis and Finn then took their seats. They had come over so the other's could all sit together. Then the lights were lowered and the performances started.

Finn was watching the stage show but he was also watching Anna and Robert. They were sitting beside each other Robert had his arm on the back of her chair. They seemed to just be watching the performances and everyone at the table were talking happily between acts. He understood why Anna had made the request. Yeah, he would have like to have spent the evening at the same table with Anna but hearing Ann talk about how much her mom wanted to be here and that it was a good time for the trip because her dad has been more like his old self lately. He understood this was important to them and that they all know next year could be a very different story for Sean. He had seen Bobbie and Monica come over and say hello to them, talking briefly then leaving. Laura came over and joined them for a little while, they all seemed happy that Sean and Tiffany were there. That didn't mean he had to like the fact Robert and Anna were sitting there looking so happy.

Eventually, Finn leaned closer to Alexis, "Do you think I'm misreading what's going on between them?"

"Between who, what are you talking about?" Alexis asked.

"Anna and Robert, they've been spending quite a bit of time together lately." Finn looked at Alexis, "He really does understand Anna. He knows what she's gone through. How that has shaped the woman she is now. What if he's better suited for her?"

"Well he is very attractive and he has that cocky little grin and that accent."

Finn looked at her, "You aren't making me feel any better right now."

Alexis smiled, "Are you actually worried that Robert is making a play for Anna?" This wasn't the first time he had talked to her about this and she couldn't help but tease him. Beside tonight she knew them sitting together was for the benefit of their friend.

"I don't know what I'm thinking. You know that when Alex was here she said a few things and I guess that's still making me wonder about mine and Anna's relationship, about our future."

"What did she say exactly?" He had told her about this before but she wasn't sure why he was making such a big deal about it.

"Oh, the big message in it all was that I am not ever going to be enough for Anna."

"So because Robert has been around for a while you have yourself convinced that he's the kind of man Anna needs."

"They have been married twice, neither of which ended in the most traditional of ways. They have a family together, the family. They all look out for each other."

"Are you intimidated by Robert?"

"He's an international spy and makes it very clear he doesn't think much of me. Yeah, it's a little intimidating."

Alexis had to laugh at that, "Come on give yourself a little credit you are the one she's living with after all."

Finn looked at her and she smiled at him, yeah alright she has a point he thought. He looked over just in time to see Anna laughing as she leaned against Robert, he had his arm around her smiling as he talked to the others. Then they all started laughing, Anna blushed and touched Robert's chest. They are much too comfortable with each other he thought. He knew there was no point saying anything else to Alexis, she would just try to convince him he's overreacting again. He was torturing himself watching them, he knew that. They are sitting with old friends and they are more than likely just talking about old times. He looked up again, this time Robert had his head in his hands and Anna gave him a little shove as the others all burst out laughing. Yeah, maybe he was reading to much into what he was seeing.

When Finn wasn't focusing on what might or might not be happening between Anna and Robert at the other table he was being rather entertaining in his own way. Alexis had missed hearing the little remarks he would make that she was never sure if he meant to be funny. With everything that was going on with her girls she liked getting to spend a little time with him but why was she thinking about him so much lately? It wasn't just because they turn to each other when they needed someone to talk to. The dream she'd had about him last night hadn't been quite the same as the one about Julian, she had woken up from this one a lot less concerned by it and kind of turned on. With her head down slightly Alexis glanced over at Finn and blushed a little thinking about her dream and what they had been doing.

Anna didn't know when the last time she laughed this much was. The performances were incredible and between them Robert and Sean had them all laughing. She could tell Sean knew everyone at their table but at times she thought he might be a little confused about when it was. It could be worse she thought and she could tell Tiffany was having a good time. As they watched Valentin sing Robert leaned close, "I bet you're wishing I'd hit him again at the end of his song."

Anna grinned, turned slightly to whisper, "That was the best performance last year. He deserves to be hit a lot more than he is."

"Well, I will try to work it into my schedule while I'm here," he whispered back.

Anna put her hand on his leg, "I want to be there to see that."

"It would only be fun if you got to see it. You look stunning this evening."

"Thank you. You look very handsome this evening. Not scruffy like last year," she said as she touched his chin realizing she should move her hand.

"It helped that I wasn't held prisoner by anyone this year," he said with a grin making her laugh. It was so good to hear her laugh Robert thought. Anna was dealing with so much, she needed an evening like to just enjoy herself. The more he could make her laugh the happier he would be. When the song ended Sean turned and started telling another joke. Robert smiled, he might have heard a lot of these jokes before but it good to know Sean could still remember them and was in the mood to make his friends laugh.

Tiffany had been watching Robert and Anna. She knew Anna was with that Dr. Finn but what she was seeing this evening wasn't just an act, they are still very comfortable with each other. They're both flirting and she doesn't even think they realize they are. When Mac and Felicia come for their visit she'll have to talk to them about what if anything is going on between Robert and Anna. For tonight she didn't care what the reason was she was having a great time and that was all that mattered.

Midway through the evening, Finn got up to talk to Chase about his performance. Chase had noticed the seating arrangements and how Robert and Anna seemed to keep touching each other. It made him think about what he had seen earlier in the week on the docks. Was there actually something going on between them? "So why are you sitting with Alexis if you came here with Anna?" he asked bluntly.

"The couple that's joined their table is Sean and Tiffany Donely. Apparently, they thought it would be easier for Sean if it was a table of people he knows well."

"Alright, so they are acting like a couple for their friend. Couldn't they just sit together?"

"So I'm not imagining that. They are way to close right?"

"All I know Finn, if I was you I wouldn't like sitting there watching Scorpio flirt with my girl."

"Right," Finn said as he continued to watch them.

"We should take our seats I think the shows about to start again," Chase said then walked back over to join Willow.

It was getting close to the end of the night when Robin took the stage. Everyone listened as she talked about living with HIV, about how that had not stopped her from living a full and complete life and how wonderful it is that she gets to share this night with so many friends and that her entire family is here for the first time. Robin's speech was followed by one more performance by the nurses then slowly everyone started to leave. Ann got up and walked over to her parents, the three of them left fairly quickly then Anna and Robert walked over to Finn and Alexis. "Thank you, I hope you both still enjoyed your evening," Anna said.

Alexis glanced at Finn knowing he might not have had a great time and answered first. "It was a very nice evening. Listening to Ann talk about Sean I understand why it was so important for you all to spend this evening together. Ann made it sound like this was more for her mother than anything."

"Yeah," Finn simply said.

"Tiff wants more good memories with him. Being here with their friends made her very happy. She needed an evening like this." Robert told them.

Anna put her arm though Finn, "Are you ready to take me home?" He smiled with a nod and they turned to walk away. Finn wasn't really sure what to say about this evening but he could tell that at least Anna had a good time.

"I feel like I owe you a night out," Robert told Alexis as Anna and Finn walked away.

"I think I'd like that, we didn't really get a chance to talk that much this evening."

"Alright while I'm here I owe you one dinner," he said with a grin and put his hand her lower back. Finn and Anna hadn't left yet and Anna turned just in time to see Robert and Alexis walk out together. Maybe he is interested in her she thought watching them walk away.